رد لويس روبياليس، رئيس الاتحاد الإسباني السابق لكرة القدم، على هجوم رئيس نادي ريال مدريد، فلورنتينو بيريز ضد برشلونة خلال الأيام الماضية.
بيريز شن هجوما كبيرا على برشلونة خلال الأيام الماضية، موضحًا أن الفريق الكتالوني قد استفاد بصورة كبيرة من التحكيم ومن الاتحاد الإسباني بقيادة رئيسه الحالي خافيير تيباس.
وأشار روبياليس في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو”، إلى أن بيريز قد تواصل معه بنفسه من أجل العمل على تعديلات على تقنية الفار بالفعل.
وقال روبياليس: ”أرسل لي صديق فيديو يروي كيف اتصل بي فلورنتينو بيريز، رئيس ريال مدريد، ومنذ ذلك الحين طرأ تغيير على تقنية الفيديو المساعد وأرغب في شرح ذلك”.
وأضاف روبياليس في حديثه: “واجهنا مشكلة مع تقنية الفيديو المساعد، مع التقنية الأولى لم تكن عدسة الكاميرا متوافقة مع خط التسلل، كانت هناك مشكلة فنية وكانت هناك حالات تسلل لم يكن من الممكن رصدها بشكل صحيح، ولكن تم تصحيحها عند اختيار تقنية الفيديو المساعد الثانية”.
اقرأ أيضًا .. تيباس عن تصريحات بيريز الهجومية: “متطرف وعنصري”
وأوضح: “اتصالات تيباس كانت لخدمة مصالح ذاتية، تلقيت اتصالات من جميع الرؤساء والمديرين العامين والرؤساء التنفيذيين وبعض المديرين الرياضيين، خلال خمس سنوات لي كرئيس للاتحاد الإسابني، اتصل بي جميع فرق الدرجتين الأولى والثانية للاحتجاج وطلب عقد اجتماعات”.
وأردف روبياليس: ”علاوة على ذلك، تم وضع بروتوكول يسمح لهم بالاتصال بنا وإرسال الرسائل إلينا وكتابة خطابات إلينا ونتيجة لهذه الاتصالات، تم تحديد مواعيد مع هيئة الاتصالات الإسبانية”.
وتابع: “خلال السنوات الخمس التي قضيتها هناك، أعتقد أننا تلقينا اتصالًا أو اتصالين من ريال مدريد وهناك العديد من الأندية الأخرى التي تلقينا منها اتصالًا واحدًا أو اثنين أو ثلاثة أو عشرة أو حتى خمسة عشر اتصالًا حول تقنية الفار”.
واختتم روبياليس: ”هناك أمور أخرى لا يحسن ريال مدريد التعامل معها، على سبيل المثال مع دوري السوبر كان لدينا خلاف، أو مع قضية البث التلفزيوني كانت هناك أمور لم تعجبنا وناقشناها مع النادي، لكن قضية تقنية الفيديو فاجأتني، لأنني أصر على أن ريال مدريد اتصل بنا مرة أو مرتين بينما اتصل بنا آخرون أكثر”.
Manchester United are pursuing new reinforcements in January and could now be set to submit a bid for one of Europe’s most high-profile midfielders.
Man Utd looking towards the January window
Admittedly, the Red Devils have enjoyed a mixed start to the Premier League season and will now look to take advantage of the chance to move up a few places within a tight collective of sides all vying for a spot in the European slots.
On Monday, Manchester United’s frustrating defeat at home to Everton brought back some old scars that have been a feature of Ruben Amorim’s tenure at the club, with his side unable to break down a spirited Toffees outfit despite having a man advantage for most of proceedings.
Falling flat in attack, Joshua Zirkzee’s emergence after failing to earn a regular place in the side this season was questioned by BBC Radio Manchester’s Gaz Drinkwater, who believes Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount should’ve been brought into the starting side instead.
He said: “Bring Mount and Kobbie Mainoo into the starting XI. He obviously doesn’t see Mainoo as a midfielder because he can’t get in the team in that position. Amorim sees him as a number 10 or maybe even a false-nine type player where maybe they [the front three] interchange a bit.
“I don’t understand the logic of bringing in a totally cold Joshua Zirkzee into the game, who has basically had zero minutes this season, and he did nothing.”
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Without doubt, the Red Devils will need to recruit wisely in January as they begin to feel the effects of a hefty schedule, and they could now be set to lodge a bid for a high-profile midfielder.
Man Utd ready bid for Federico Valverde
According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are preparing a £87m bid for Federico Valverde, and he may be allowed to depart amid a spate of up and down performances for Real Madrid.
The Uruguay international may now be set for a change of scenery and would be open to a move elsewhere, potentially re-establishing himself as the central part of a project at Old Trafford.
Five similar players to Federico Valverde
Declan Rice
Arsenal
Bernardo Silva
Manchester City
Eduardo Camavinga
Real Madrid
Nicolo Barella
Inter Milan
Moises Caicedo
Chelsea
All data courtesy of Football Transfers
Labelled “superb” by Thibaut Courtois, Valverde has registered four assists in 17 appearances across all competitions this season. Overall, he has scored 32 times and laid on 35 goals for his teammates in 340 appearances for Los Blancos, cementing himself as a fan favourite.
Amorim is confident that his versatility, quality and combativeness could form a new dynamic in the engine room as they look to reclaim their place among the elite of English football.
Real Madrid aren’t totally closed off to selling Valverde, creating a scenario that could work out for all parties if the 27-year-old makes a headline-grabbing move to English shores.
Artilheiro do Grêmio nesta temporada, Luis Suárez lidou com problemas físicos ao longo do ano, tentou forçar uma saída do Imortal e demorou para embalar na atual edição do Campeonato Brasileiro.
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Com apenas quatro gols nas primeiras 19 rodadas, o atacante chegou a negociar nos bastidores a rescisão de seu contrato, em uma tentativa de se juntar a Lionel Messi, que atua no Inter Miami, dos Estados Unidos.
No entanto, a equipe gaúcha fez jogo duro e a quebra do vínculo não se concretizou. Após o atrito, ambas as partes firmaram um acordo para que o uruguaio permanecesse no clube até dezembro de 2023.
Com a situação extracampo resolvida, Suárez elevou sua produção e passou a liderar a arrancada do Grêmio na competição nacional. No segundo turno, ‘El Pistolero’ anotou 10 gols e distribuiu seis assistência, com destaque para o hat-trick contra o líder Botafogo, que garantiu a virada do Grêmio fora de casa.
➡️ Confira a tabela de classificação do Campeonato Brasileiro
Com sua passagem no Imortal chegando ao fim, o atacante espera permanecer na “Zona Suárez” (entenda aqui) para liderar o Grêmio rumo ao título do Brasileirão. Com cincos rodadas para o término do campeonato, o Tricolor Gaúcho ocupa a terceira colocação, com 59 pontos.
Nesta reta final, a equipe encara a seguinte sequência: Corinthians (casa), Atlético-MG (fora), Goiás (casa), Vasco (casa) e Fluminense (fora).
To say that Arsenal are unrecognisable as a club today from the one Mikel Arteta took charge of over five years ago would be an understatement.
The Spaniard has helped to completely overhaul the club from top to bottom and has signed some incredible players in the process.
One of his very best additions to the squad has undoubtedly been Declan Rice, who was once again incredible in the Champions League this week.
And now, it looks like another of Arteta’s signings is transforming into a Rice-type player this season.
Rice's best European nights for Arsenal
Since joining the club for £105m in the summer of 2023, Rice has made 26 appearances for Arsenal in the Champions League, in which he has scored four goals, provided four assists and averaged 2.12 points per game.
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It would be fair to say that across those 26 games, he has been pretty incredible for the North Londoners, but when it comes to picking out his best European nights in red and white, there are three that stick out, the first of which is the home game against Paris Saint-Germain in the league phase last season.
It was a game the Gunners comfortably won 2-0, and one in which the former West Ham United captain totally bossed the Parisians’ smaller and, at the time, out-of-form midfield.
Arsenal's DeclanRicecelebrates after the match
The Englishman didn’t pick up a goal or assist in that game, but he did do that in his second-best Champions League display for the club, which came on Wednesday this week.
Arteta started his record signing in the left eight against Atlético Madrid, and as fans have now come to expect, he was cool, calm and composed on the ball and a physical monster off of it.
Moreover, he provided the assist for Gabriel Magalhães’ opener, and then it was his corner that eventually led to Viktor Gyokeres’ second goal, and the team’s fourth.
However, while the 26-year-old was great against Atleti, he was out of this world against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals last season.
The midfield machine put in an extraordinary shift at the Bernabéu, but it was the home leg where he was utterly sublime, stopping everything in the middle of the park and then scoring those two world-class free-kicks.
In short, while he cost a lot of money, Rice has been worth every penny for Arsenal, and now another of Arteta’s signings is starting to embody some of his best traits.
Arsenal's new Rice-type star
Due to Arteta’s brilliant signings and Hale End’s production of talent, there is no shortage of incredible players in Arsenal’s squad, but the player who is becoming something of a Rice-type star is Riccardo Calafiori.
Now, it’s worth noting that this doesn’t mean they are the same type of player, as that would be a silly thing to suggest.
However, there are some increasingly obvious similarities between the pair, with the first being their mentality.
Like the Englishman, since coming back from his string of injuries that kept him out for most of last season, the former Bologna star has played like a man possessed.
Not only is he someone who can and does bound forward with the ball at his feet, but he’s also more than happy to get into a physical duel with an opponent to try and keep the ball or win it. As The Telegraph’s Sam Dean aptly put it, he plays like a “wild horse on the loose.”
On top of that, he is also a sensational striker of the ball, and while he isn’t delivering set-pieces, it has been on show in the goals he has scored over the last year, and even those that have been disallowed, like that unreal volley against Fulham last weekend.
Moreover, like the former West Ham man, the Italian international seems to have limitless energy, and this season has been allowed the freedom to roam here, there and everywhere on the pitch.
This “positionless” approach in games, as one analyst puts it, makes him a nightmare for opponents to defend against and could help him snuff out counters before they have a chance to get out of their half at times.
Finally, the Rome-born titan is also one of the best in his position in the league, as according to FBref, he ranks in the top 2% of full-backs for expected goals, shots, goal-creating actions, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 17% for tackles in the attacking third and more, all per 90.
Calafiori’s Scout Report
Statistics
Per 90
Percentile
xG: Expected Goals
0.28
Top 2%
npxG: Non-Penalty xG
0.28
Top 2%
Shots Total
2.35
Top 2%
SCA (Fouls Drawn)
0.29
Top 2%
Goal-Creating Actions
0.73
Top 2%
GCA (Defensive Action)
0.15
Top 2%
SCA (Shot)
0.44
Top 6%
GCA (Shot)
0.15
Top 6%
Touches (Att Pen)
3.96
Top 6%
Goals + Assists
0.44
Top 10%
SCA (Defensive Action)
0.15
Top 10%
GCA (Live-ball Pass)
0.44
Top 10%
Goals
0.15
Top 13%
Assists
0.29
Top 13%
Non-Penalty Goals
0.15
Top 13%
npxG/Shot
0.12
Top 13%
Tackles (Att 3rd)
0.44
Top 17%
All Stats via FBref
Ultimately, Calafiori has been unreal for Arsenal this season, and as he has got better, he has become more and more of a Rice-type player.
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Bayern Munich’s plan to welcome back Jerome Boateng as an intern under Vincent Kompany has collapsed amid fan outrage over the former defender’s past conviction. The ex-German international, who had hoped to begin his coaching journey at the club where he won everything, has now stepped back, urging focus on Bayern’s success while he turns toward his A-license studies.
Bayern’s plan with Boateng and the fallout
Bayern had intended to bring Boateng back home in a mentorship role under Kompany. The plan was simple but symbolic as the 2014 World Cup winner, who spent a decade in Munich winning nine Bundesliga titles and two Champions Leagues, would begin his post-playing career where it all began, learning the ropes of management.
The club had approved the short internship as part of Boateng’s A-license certification, giving him hands-on experience with one of Europe’s top technical setups. Kompany, who shared a dressing room with Boateng at Manchester City, was said to be enthusiastic about having him join the staff in a developmental capacity.
However, what began as a low-key initiative quickly turned into a storm. Bayern fans launched protests, both online and at the Allianz Arena, condemning the decision and citing Boateng’s 2024 conviction for intentional bodily harm. Supporters unfurled banners reading: “No place for violence at Bayern,” and a petition titled: “Set boundaries against misogynistic violence” gained thousands of signatures within days. The growing backlash led Boateng and Bayern to jointly decide to cancel the arrangement.
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Boateng speaks out after fan's protest
For Boateng, the internship cancellation was a painful but calculated decision. The former Bayern centre-back, who had initially expressed joy at returning to Sabener Strasse, admitted that the controversy took a toll on him. Yet, in his words, his focus remains on rebuilding and contributing to football from another angle.
In a message on Instagram, the defender announced: “After the recent discussions surrounding me, I’ve decided to focus on my topics – the A license, RYZR, and Arena2. That’s where my focus is right now, and your full focus should be solely on the pitch and the goal of continuing this impressive streak of 13 consecutive victories.”
Bayern echoed his sentiment in a statement on social media. The statement from the club said: “In a constructive exchange that FC Bayern and Jérôme Boateng had this week, it was decided that Jérôme Boateng will not be an intern at FC Bayern. Jérôme feels very connected to FC Bayern and does not want FC Bayern to suffer any damage due to the current controversial discussion surrounding him.”
The withdrawal helped defuse rising tensions with supporters, ensuring that the club’s image and fan unity remained intact. Yet the episode also reignited debate about rehabilitation in football and how former players with legal histories can rebuild their careers.
Boateng's legal saga and it's impact
The uproar around Boateng’s return stems from a six-year legal saga that shadowed the twilight of his playing career. The case dated back to July 2018, when Boateng was accused of assaulting his former partner, Sherin Senler, during a vacation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Boateng consistently denied the allegations, but the case went through multiple appeals and retrials. In September 2021, a Munich court initially fined him €1.8 million, later reduced to €1.2 million after appeal. In July 2024, the final verdict imposed a suspended fine of €200,000 and ordered him to donate €100,000 to charity, though no criminal record was issued. The court emphasised protecting the couple’s daughters, calling them “the real victims” of the prolonged legal dispute.
While the case ended without jail time, its reputational impact was immense. The controversy affected Boateng’s final playing years, limiting his club prospects. After leaving Bayern in 2021, he had brief stints in France and Italy before retiring in 2025, closing a glittering chapter that included over 300 appearances, nine Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokals and two Champions League crowns.
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What’s next for Boateng and Bayern?
Although the internship has been shelved, the Bavarians made it clear that the door to the club remains symbolically open. The management and Kompany personally thanked Boateng for his understanding, emphasising that his contributions to the club’s legacy would always be remembered.
Sources close to Bayern indicated that the original plan was for Boateng to shadow the coaching staff through early 2026, but fan sentiment made the move untenable. Kompany, meanwhile, has publicly supported the decision while urging focus on the team’s ongoing campaign.
Boateng, for his part, has pivoted his energy toward the next chapter, completing his UEFA A coaching license, expanding his athlete recovery company RYZR, and developing Arena2, a project focused on community-based sports performance.
Wayne Rooney has bemoaned one “crazy” West Ham United “problem” and Graham Potter’s “lack of belief”, following the recent 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace.
West Ham suffer another setback against Crystal Palace
Potter appears to be on very thin ice after the 2-1 defeat at home against Crystal Palace last time out, with the West Ham hierarchy now running the rule over potential replacements.
Following the most recent loss, the Hammers are 19th in the Premier League table, having tasted defeat in four of their opening five games, with Gary O’Neil and Sean Dyche also entering the frame as potential Potter replacements.
In the wake of yet another loss, Rooney has bemoaned the Hammers’ inability to defend set-pieces, while also calling into question the atmosphere at the club.
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The former Manchester United man said: “I analysed the set-pieces yesterday, last night, on Match of the Day and it’s all second balls. Graham Potter came out and said they’ve been working on set plays, so as a coach there’s only so much you can do, but they’re not winning the first header and the problem is they’re not reacting quick enough, and then the second ball, they’re conceding goals.
“So, it’s crazy to concede seven from five, but when you have a lack of confidence and a lack of belief – I think that’s clear with the West Ham players and the fans as well I can imagine. There’s a lack of a belief in the team, and it looks like the owners and the manager.”
Potter must fix defensive issues to keep his job
Defending from set-pieces has undoubtedly been a major issue for the Irons, with Potter saying: “We’ve addressed [our weakness from dead-balls] and we’re working to improve it. We conceded too many, had to defend a lot. That is something we also have to look at. It’s just constant work on the training ground.”
However, having been in the dugout since January, the 50-year-old has had more than enough time to fix the glaring problems, and there have been very few promising signs, winning just six of the 25 games he has taken charge of.
The Hammers have also conceded 13 goals already this season, the highest number of any Premier League side, so it is clear their top-flight status could be in jeopardy if there is not either a radical improvement or a change in manager.
While he arguably wouldn’t be the flashiest of appointments, Dyche could be a solid option for West Ham, at least on a short-term basis, having led Everton to safety when the Toffees were in a similar position.
O Palmeiras está cada vez mais longe de se reforçar nesta janela de transferências. A poucas horas do encerramento do período de inscrições para as oitavas de final da Libertadores, as negociações que pareciam ser os focos dos dirigentes palmeirenses esfriaram e caminham para um desfecho negativo. Isso porque o clube não avançou nas conversas com Aníbal Moreno, do Racing-ARG, e com Santiago Hezze, do Huracán-ARG.
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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui
Se quiser que o suposto reforço atue pelo mata-mata da Liberta, o Verdão tem até este sábado (29) para entregar a lista final de inscritos para a Conmebol. Será permitido substituir até cinco nomes da listagem inicial de 50 atletas credenciados para a fase de grupos. Caso não consiga cumprir esse prazo, o Alviverde terá até quarta-feira (2) para contratar um jogador. Nesse caso, ele só poderia ser inscrito numa hipotética quartas de final.
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Assim, esta sexta-feira é um dia decisivo para fechar com um reforço, o que neste momento parece longe de ser concretizado. Durante esta semana, o Palmeiras chegou a ter dois atletas como alvo: Aníbal Moreno, do Racing-ARG, e Santiago Hezze, do Huracán-ARG. Ambos tiveram aval da comissão técnica e se encaixariam no perfil de “camisa 5” tão pedido para suprir a vaga deixada por Danilo no início deste ano.
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Por Aníbal, o Verdão chegou a fazer duas ofertas, sendo a última delas de 7,5 milhões de dólares (R$ 35,6 milhões na cotação atual). Ambas, porém, foram recusadas imediatamente pelo Racing, que quer 10 milhões de reais livres de impostos (R$ 47,4 milhões). Mesmo com o desejo do jogador em defender o Alviverde, o clube não fez mais movimentos para buscar um acordo com os dirigentes argentinos.
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Já em relação ao jovem Hezze, de 21 anos, as conversas iniciaram de forma otimista, com sinalizações positivas das partes envolvidas. O Palmeiras chegou a planejar uma oferta de 4 a 5 milhões de dólares (R$ 19 milhões a R$ 23,7 milhões) por 50% dos direitos do jogador. No entanto, essa proposta ainda não chegou na mesa do Huracán, que havia mostrado disposição para negociar nesses termos. A tendência é que ela nem chegue.
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Segundo fontes ouvidas pela reportagem, há uma certa preocupação em não errar nessa contratação. Por ser a única e altamente necessária, a intenção é ser o mais preciso possível para evitar que se repita o insucesso da grande maioria dos reforços de 2022. No momento, é bastante provável que o Alviverde feche a janela sem reforçar o elenco para 2023. Sem encontrar o equilíbrio entre custo-benefício e ser ou não um atleta pronto, o clube deverá passar “zerado” neste período de contratações.
Após a derrota do Santos por 3 a 0 para o Cuiabá, em jogo válido pela 13ª rodada do Brasileirão, o zagueiro Joaquim falou com a imprensa na beira do gramado. O defensor demonstrou incômodo com a fase atual do Alvinegro e fez um desabafo.
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– Infelizmente a gente sai derrotado mais uma vez. A gente tem que reagir o mais rápido possível, não podemos aceitar o time nessa situação. A gente tem que reagir para melhorar no campeonato, porque o Santos é um time gigante e é inadmissível a situação que estamos passando.
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Ainda sobre o momento ruim do time, que está há 12 jogos sem vitória, sendo sete deles no Brasileirão, Joaquim falou sobre o que está dando errado para o Santos. Na visão do jogador, o elenco precisa trabalhar mais para sair desta situação.
– Infelizmente as coisas não estão encaixando, não estão dando certo. Agora é trabalhar para ver o que a gente pode fazer para melhorar no dia a dia e conseguir sair mais rápido dessa situação.
Questionado sobre o afastamento de Soteldo, e se o atacante venezuelano fez falta ao time na busca de um resultado melhor, o zagueiro preferiu não comentar, mas revelou uma exigência de Paulo Turra para o elenco a partir de agora.
– A gente tem vários jogadores importantes. Sobre o Soteldo, é um jogador bom, mas o professor Paulo Turra chegou agora e deixou bem claro que ninguém pode ser maior que o clube. Então, a decisão foi tomada e vamos seguir trabalhando com os jogadores que temos.
Following the departure of Hamza Igamane, Rangers have reportedly entered advanced talks to sign an instant replacement for their star man before the deadline.
Latest on Rangers' transfer targets
It’s been an incredibly frustrating start for Russell Martin at Ibrox and the former Southampton boss only had his misery compiled by Igamane’s exit earlier this week. After the forward refused to come from the bench for the Gers in their draw against St Mirren, his departure seemed inevitable and that proved to be the case when LOSC Lille came swooping in.
Finding a replacement for Igamane will not be a routine task, but it is one that the Gers must complete before Monday’s deadline. Just who emerges as the ideal candidate is the big question.
Already, names like Youssef Chermiti have been mentioned and he looks set to make the move to Glasgow. At 21 years old, the Portuguese forward is full of potential even after a difficult run at Everton. And, as we’ve seen all summer, Martin is often keen to welcome reinforcements from English football.
Of course, whoever comes in must hit the ground running. The last thing that Martin needs is another struggling star given how the pressure is already mounting.
After a 9-1 humiliation across two legs against Club Brugge and a difficult start in the Scottish Premiership, questions are already being asked of Martin and ones that he’d have liked to avoid so early into his tenure.
He told reporters after exiting the Champions League on an evening to forget: “To the fans, I have nothing but an apology. I’m very sorry they had to witness that. It’s humiliating and it’s painful. There’s disappointment and hurt that they’ve had to go through that.”
Rangers in advanced talks to sign Diakite
As reported by Afrik-Foot, Rangers are now in advanced talks to sign Oumar Diakite from Stade Reims. The 21-year-old forward could be an addition with Chermiti and a replacement for Igamane. Like the Everton forward, however, the Ivory Coast ace is a player who is yet to reach his full potential and may not hit the ground running at Ibrox.
Rangers tipped to hire Russell Martin replacement in "box-office" move
The tactician is already attracting huge criticism.
2 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 30, 2025
The Stade Reims attacker managed just four goals in all competitions in the last campaign and would be filling the role of Igamane, who managed as many as 16 goals for Rangers in all competitions. Replacing that quality has already been an issue for Martin, but there’s no guarantee that Diakite would be the solution for that problem.
Minutes
1,628
1,976
Goals
4
12
Assists
1
1
With the Igamane money to spend, the chance is certainly there for the 49ers to welcome a key addition before Monday’s deadline. But they must spend it wisely. Martin needs a proven, consistent goalscorer and not a gamble. Nonetheless, if reports are anything to go by, then Diakite could be an unexpected option to reignite Rangers’ frontline this summer.
Leeds United’s Championship hoodoo is finally over.
After slipping up in the second-tier playoff final to Southampton at the close of the 2023/24 season, the Whites had to dust themselves down and go again, and they did just that, with 100 points successfully accumulated last campaign as the Championship title came to Elland Road.
The best possible start to life back in the big time has also just greeted Daniel Farke’s men, with new recruit Lukas Nmecha the difference maker from the penalty spot to hand Leeds a narrow 1-0 win over Everton.
There will be no resting on their laurels, however, as the Premier League newcomers look to add even more exciting signings while the busy transfer window remains open.
Leeds lead race for £43m sensation
After all, the dust has barely settled on that Monday night success, and yet Leeds are very near to completing signing number nine of a full-on summer.
As reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, via X, Leeds are set to announce the signing of AC Milan winger Noah Okafor for a fee around the £18m ballpark.
This capture really should boost a Leeds attack that did manage to register 21 shots on goal against the Toffees, only to be thankfully bailed out by Nmecha’s calm approach from the penalty spot.
A new striker addition could also be on the cards in the form of FC Nantes ace Matthis Albine, with Caught Offside revealing that Leeds are among the frontrunners for the Frenchman’s services, having already held talks with the 22-year-old, who is also keen on moving to West Yorkshire.
Nantes' Matthis Abline shoots against Brest.
Despite stealing a vast majority of headlines after the Everton game, Nmecha could well find he’s been upgraded on if the €50m (£43m) striker does seal a switch to England shortly, on top of Joel Piroe also feeling less secure about his first-team minutes moving forward.
How Abline compares to Piroe & Nmecha
It might well feel cut-throat to insinuate that Piroe and Nmecha will fade into the background if Abline were to arrive at Elland Road imminently.
Indeed, the German has just got Leeds up and running in the unforgiving terrain of the Premier League, while his Dutch counterpart collected the Championship golden boot accolade last campaign when firing home a clinical 19 strikes.
However, both do display some worrying deficiencies in their attacking games that could hold them back from being the lethal heroes Leeds need to help survival be reached, compared to their new French target, who scored stunning strikes like this last season in Ligue 1 with ease.
Despite powering home those 19 strikes, Piroe would still manage to squander 13 big chances in the Championship – as per Sofascore – which could prove to be costly in a fight against the drop. He’s already shown signs of rust at the intimidating level, too, with an unmemorable 27 touches of the ball registered against Everton, before being taken off by Farke.
Moreover, Nmecha is just fresh off a season that was riddled with injuries at Wolfsburg, culminating in just three efforts being powered home when he was fit enough to line up for 19 Bundesliga clashes.
Away from Piroe and Nmecha displaying many downsides, however, Abline will be raring for the challenge of the Premier League if a pricey move gets off the ground before September’s deadline, having fired home a career-best total across the 2024/25 campaign for Nantes.
Games
34
Goals
9
Big chances missed
6
Assists
2
Big chances created
6
Key passes*
0.8
Last campaign saw Abline fire home a large chunk of his overall 16 goals for Nantes, with 11 strikes tallied up as Luis Castro’s men survived comfortably in the French top-flight in 13th spot.
The “unstoppable” forward – as he has been hailed by journalist Andres Onrubia Ramos – could well grow into even more of a lethal attacker performing for the relegation-threatened Whites, therefore, knowing now what it takes to be a dependable hero in a battle against relegation.
Throwing Abline into the mix would give Farke plenty of options in attack, with the “instinctive” finisher – as he has also been lauded by analyst Ben Mattinson – no doubt craving the tag of being Leeds’ main man week in week out, at the expense of both Piroe and Nmecha.
Based on all the evidence noted, he will certainly have a persuasive case on his side to be the Whites’ starter up top.
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